Histologist

A Histologist specializes in studying, identifying, and diagnosing microscopic structures and pathologies in animal and plant cells. What does that mean? It means if you’re a Histologist, you’ve got to know what you’re looking at on the other end of that microscope.

There are a few fields where Histologists practice. Obviously, many are employed in the medical field where they examine tissue samples from patients in order to diagnose possible illnesses or other pathogens. You’re also employed in a forensic capacity – like CSI: Miami, but in real life. You examine tissue samples from animals, plants and humans found in crime scenes as evidence. There are also, of course, pure-science Histologists who work in laboratories or research facilities.

You employ a variety of staining techniques in order to better discern or illuminate just what exactly they’re looking for. When you’re trying to find something that’s smaller than the size of a cell, using certain dyes to color parts of the cell is necessary. Different techniques stain different parts – the nucleus, cytoplasm, or other organelle, etc. This lab work is often left to Histology Technicians, though, while you take on a more managerial or diagnostic role.